morganb wrote:Woot! Nice going! Is it your first acceptance? Someday I hope to know what that feels like. Until then, I'm living vicariously through you guys.

~Morgan

Thanks everybody! This is my second acceptance at Nature. Those are my only two pro-level sales. I find getting sales for flash to be easier than my longer pieces, but that may be because:

1. I've written more flash pieces because they are quicker to produce2. There are more places to submit them to3. The turn around time from the various venues for flash is faster, therefore I have more total submissions for flashes than for shorts

If you don't write flash pieces already, I recommend it, if for no other reason than to get those first few creds. That's not to say writing flash is easy. I find it increasingly hard lately, because my mind seems to be chasing bigger ideas and more fleshed out characters.

Which is that my story 'Conspiracy of Silence' will be appearing in 'More Alternative Truths' due out on 11/11.

Sometime in 2015, just after I'd sold 'The Old Man on the Green' to T Gene Davis, a reader actually enquired when I would be producing another story about retired Oxford University Professor Michael Bishop, who'd discovered weird goings-on in a quiet English village. Well, Michael Bishop fan(s) the long wait is almost over. Professor Bishop is about to ride again!

In the next enthralling episode... the dark underbelly of village politics! What lurks beneath the placid surface of the parish council?

Which is that my story 'Conspiracy of Silence' will be appearing in 'More Alternative Truths' due out on 11/11.

Sometime in 2015, just after I'd sold 'The Old Man on the Green' to T Gene Davis, a reader actually enquired when I would be producing another story about retired Oxford University Professor Michael Bishop, who'd discovered weird goings-on in a quiet English village. Well, Michael Bishop fan(s) the long wait is almost over. Professor Bishop is about to ride again!

In the next enthralling episode... the dark underbelly of village politics! What lurks beneath the placid surface of the parish council?

I remember Professor Bishop. I look forward to reading it. Will it be online?

This has been a transitional year for me, in regard to life and work, and much of it has been engrossed in a project I hope to share with everyone in the next 48 hours since it involves a number of our fellow WOTFers.

..and even made one reviewer's top seven favorites (out of the twenty-seven tales in this mega-volume):

AND THE ENDS OF THE EARTH FOR THY POSSESSION by Robert B. Finegold M.D.

This novella is built on the premise of an alternate post-WWII world, and a New Europe; it is a very intriguing world. Rabbi Albert Makal and Officer Danel make a compelling pair. Danel is an automaton and I loved how he evaluated his status in the universe with faultless logic. This is a very well-written story, in spite of the haphazard French, which I hope will be corrected upon final editing. I really liked this one.--Monique Daouest, FreshFiction.comhttp://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=64063

My luck to be reviewed by a Master of Linquistics fluent in French. I knew I should have studied harder those five years in French class - over forty years ago.

So while no new stories of mine have been (as yet) accepted this year (a year mostly dedicated to editing, as I hope to soon share with everyone), I cannot say it has been a "terrible" one for me as an author.

Respectfully,Dr. Bob

Last edited by Dr.Bob on Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

My thanks, Ishmael and amoskalik.But now for something else, as Ishmael knows ...and I see has already mentioned back on SEP 1st.

I'd emailed the Administration on if I could and where I could share the following announcement, since it is the result of Writers of the Future contest (and this forum) for bringing together and inspiring so many new authors, and this project is both by and for our literary virtuoso community and the larger audience of readers we hope to reach.

But I, unfortunately, did not receive an answer as yet; and I assume that this "Success!" thread, at least, would be an appropriate place to share. We, your fellows, would welcome all here to "pass it on" and "pay it forward." So here goes (next post).

I'm pleased to share the launch of our Kickstarter to support the production of 3RD AND STARLIGHT, an anthology of 14 tales by 16 rising new stars in science fiction and fantasy. With 15 interior illustrations and amazing cover art, this is a stunning collection I believe you'll long enjoy.

Please consider supporting us, and spreading the word.

"Delicious and exotic creations by some of the best new writers in the speculative fiction field.” – William Ledbetter, 2016 Nebula award-winning author of “The Long Fall Up.”

-------------Okay, now a little about the particular relevance of our project to our fellow WOTFers.

This year it has been my turn to carry the torch to showcase stories by our fellow Writers of the Future Forum members in this new anthology,which is the third to-date. The annual STARLIGHT ANTHOLOGIES collect stories by authors who have been winners, finalists, and semi-finalists in the contest and subsequently also joined the Future Finalists Forum (http://www.futurefinalists.com) to offer critiques, share successes and failures, and provide mutual support. L Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future contest, and its (this) illustrious Forum, is where the majority of our authors first met and formed friendships, some of which inspired collaborations that earned professional publication in markets like OSC's Intergalactic Medicine Show and Mike Resnick's and Shahid Mahmud's Galaxy's Edge Magazine. Two such collaborations are reprinted (as slightly revised "directors' cuts" in 3RD AND STARLIGHT

This year's collection collects both original tales and revised and edited reprints, including a sampling of WOTF Finalist stories that may be of particular interest to our fellow WOTF forum members interested in assessing the kinds of stories that made that longed-for "final eight."

All our contributors, and ye humble editor, have inexpressible gratitude (although I'm giving it a shot here) to the Writers of the Future contest, and its judges and staff, for bringing us together and challenging us to grow as writers. We were pleased that Writers of the Future, and Joni and Dave graciously consented to our including an acknowledgment to them all in the book. Although I must be clear that THE STARLIGHT ANTHOLOGIES are not associated with or endorsed by Writers of the Future or Galaxy Press, Inc. Without them, however, we (all of us here) would never have met, our book never made. Credit, therefore, where credit is do.

I hope you will check out our Kickstarter, see many names you recognize, and the wonderful samples of the interior illustrations, and consider supporting the project and sharing the link with those who may like some great reads by new voices as well.

My story "The Final Sundering of Hellas" will be in the forthcoming anthology "Tales of Ruma" (early 2018). The anthology is the tie-in fiction associated with a tabletop RPG, Ruma: Dawn of Empire, which was funded on Kickstarter. The premise of the game world is that in the post-Hellenic Mediterranean, Helene magi managed to open a gate to Hel (as one does) and ushered in the downfall of their empire (classic Helene magi, really) and gave rise to the Ruman (Roman) Empire.

My story pitch is:

Pausanias is one of the somatophylakes, an elite bodyguard-general for his king. The last of the Helenes have barricaded themselves behind the walls of their only city yet to fall to the forces of Hel. Though loyal to his king, a mysterious woman give him a command he cannot disobey: kill the king or your family dies. With almost every option leading to the grave, Pausanias must chart a delicate course if he wants to escape with his, and his family's, life.

Chief Editor Fran Eisemann of Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores takes the pencil from behind her ear and stares me into a chair to answer questions about my first foray into indie editing and publishing with 3RD AND STARLIGHT. Dark room, bare bulb hanging from the ceiling, something unseen sniggering wickedly in the corner . . . I take a few moments to reflect.

3RD AND STARLIGHT DAY 5 - 34%!We're over 1/3 the way toward our goal in 5 days!

We raise our prosthetic fingers (the index-pointer one, to be clear) and our flagons of cider and ale - and a few of motor oil - and shout our thanks and approbations! While there lie many hazards still ahead (none worse than the beast Apathy), with your help, we’ll carry and “Share” knowledge of our Company and seek more to band with us so that we all may reach our Goal and equally share in the treasure. Please continue to help us spread The Word!

One week in with this crowd-funding experience with 3RD AND STARLIGHT, and it is very interesting.For a bunch of relatively unknown authors, albeit all WOTF winning graduates or aspirants, to receive close to $1K in backer support (38% of our goal) in one week, is "Success!"

And I've been humbled by the "established" authors and editors who've help promote and even donated to the project (more on these in DEC during the last week push). What an amazing community is this one of authors, editors, and artists! After decades of practicing medicine and dealing with the competition between hospitals, insurance companies, and even fellow physicians, I cannot express how truly great our creative community is.

Oh yes! But the interview is almost better than the story. There's more here Aaron. You've created a world which is the logical extension of surveillance-generated, privacy-invading, humanity-degrading targetted advertising. Go for the big one and send it to Clarkesworld!

Oh yes! But the interview is almost better than the story. There's more here Aaron. You've created a world which is the logical extension of surveillance-generated, privacy-invading, humanity-degrading targetted advertising. Go for the big one and send it to Clarkesworld!

Thanks guys! Yes, maybe I could lengthen it up a bit and sell it elsewhere... I hadn't really thought of doing that.

Made my very first ever paying sale last week! It took six months to hear back from the publication and to be honest, I'd completely forgotten I had submitted. Just another reminder, I suppose, that patience is a must in this game. I'll post more info when the publication goes live (sometime early 2018).

-Phillip

1x SF2x HM2x R---“If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn.” ― Ray Bradbury

pcmccollum wrote:Made my very first ever paying sale last week! It took six months to hear back from the publication and to be honest, I'd completely forgotten I had submitted. Just another reminder, I suppose, that patience is a must in this game. I'll post more info when the publication goes live (sometime early 2018).

pcmccollum wrote:Made my very first ever paying sale last week! It took six months to hear back from the publication and to be honest, I'd completely forgotten I had submitted. Just another reminder, I suppose, that patience is a must in this game. I'll post more info when the publication goes live (sometime early 2018).

-Phillip

Congratulations! Getting a check for your writing is nice validation. Seeing it in print will give you a further boost. It's good to see results from hard work. Enjoy!